This is another strip which shows Calvin at his most mature. As I mentioned in my reply to DaveG1960, Watterson has explained that it was inspired by a dead bird that he found. The week-long Baby Racoon story arc had been inspired by a dead kitten that his wife had found. Calvin and his Mom reflected Watterson and his wife in that story arc. Another classic moment in which Calvin shows his mature side is in the story arc where Mom was ill. Calvin tried to comfort her and said, at one point, “It’s kinda hard being a Mom to a Mom.” I had that feeling whenever my own mother was ill.
Nature IS ruthless. That’s why it makes no sense to provide nature with the elements so it can be even more so. We know eventually the death toll from intensified hurricanes, typhoons, tornados, rising sea levels and the forest fires will force us to take action, so why wait? You think banking on 45 to come to our rescue makes any sense? Let’s elect some folks who are serious about working together, regardless of what labels get tossed around. (Sorry about the rant).
While culling weeds I found a rufous-sided eastern towhee male laying next to house foundation. Very sad, as that is a very rarely seen species near our feeders and pots. Not a mark on him. We have hawks but no sign of that. No nearby kids with bb spitters. Might have hit nearby window too hard but couldn’t tell. Just sad to lose even one.
“There is special providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now, ’tis not to come; if it be not to come, it will be now; if it be not now, yet it will come—thereadiness is all.” – Shakespeare
Death is the end of this mortal existence, but there is so much work to do avoiding it, that it really isn’t worth thinking about until you have to. Sort of like the start of school.
It’s not suppose to make sense. It’s just part of human nature to look for patterns and meaning whether they are true or not. Thats how we survived as a species,
Definitely one of their best strips. I love that photorealistic dead bird sketch in the first panel. I definitely thought of this strip a couple times I was working at Walmart and I had to dispose of a dead sparrow that most likely hit the doors. (Sparrows were always getting in and out of the store.)
Interesting. This was drawn some 26 years before Olaf sang “This will all make sense when I am older” in Frozen II. (“When I Am Older” Josh Gad as Olaf).
Some things never change. (Also a song from Frozen II performed by the cast.)
Nope. Never does, and I’ll never see 70 again. You do learn to live with it, and appreciate the good parts while trying not to dwell too much on the not-so-good.
BE THIS GUY 10 months ago
All grown up now. Still doesn’t make sense.
codycab 10 months ago
You mean “If” you grow up, Calvin? But seriously, R.I.P bird.
RuinQueenofOblivion 10 months ago
Calvin I’m in my 30s… it never makes sense.
C 10 months ago
No hurry, Calvin
minty_Joe 10 months ago
At first, I thought from seeing that realistic drawing of a bird, that this was the one where Calvin is a songbird singing, “On Top of Spaghetti”.
minty_Joe 10 months ago
The “Bring Out Your Dead” scene from Monty Python and The Holy Grail suddenly popped into my mind. LOL.
Erse IS better 10 months ago
One of my favorites. Glad to see it again.
Imagine 10 months ago
These philosophical ones are part of what makes Calvin & Hobbes so incredibly wonderful.
enigmamz 10 months ago
When you’re the grown up, it’s your job to clean such things up.
orinoco womble 10 months ago
In my city, if you see a dead bird it’s usually July or August, and the bird died of heat exhaustion.
peb6006 10 months ago
❤️
snsurone76 10 months ago
Very serious and solemn strip today, with no humorous “punchline”. Looks like Calvin already has character.
DaveG1960 10 months ago
Watterson really put some detail into that bird, I wonder if it’s based on one he found and sketched?
hitman4cookies 10 months ago
Bad news, Calvin. I’m past 60 and it still doesn’t make sense.
Calvinist1966 10 months ago
This is another strip which shows Calvin at his most mature. As I mentioned in my reply to DaveG1960, Watterson has explained that it was inspired by a dead bird that he found. The week-long Baby Racoon story arc had been inspired by a dead kitten that his wife had found. Calvin and his Mom reflected Watterson and his wife in that story arc. Another classic moment in which Calvin shows his mature side is in the story arc where Mom was ill. Calvin tried to comfort her and said, at one point, “It’s kinda hard being a Mom to a Mom.” I had that feeling whenever my own mother was ill.
hariseldon59 10 months ago
Few of us are pondering the philosophy implications of a dead bird while eating chicken.
saylorgirl 10 months ago
Don’t rush your childhood Calvin, enjoy it. Being an adult has more problems than being a child.
Uhohcroc 10 months ago
Thank you, Bill Watterson
jagedlo 10 months ago
Love that final panel…just two friends who have each other…
rmercer Premium Member 10 months ago
If everytone/everything lived forever, we would never have been born. Best I can do….
corpcookie 10 months ago
He broke the 4th wall
mrwiskers 10 months ago
Nature IS ruthless. That’s why it makes no sense to provide nature with the elements so it can be even more so. We know eventually the death toll from intensified hurricanes, typhoons, tornados, rising sea levels and the forest fires will force us to take action, so why wait? You think banking on 45 to come to our rescue makes any sense? Let’s elect some folks who are serious about working together, regardless of what labels get tossed around. (Sorry about the rant).
gango4 10 months ago
One of the all-time great C&H Sunday strips.
sandpiper 10 months ago
While culling weeds I found a rufous-sided eastern towhee male laying next to house foundation. Very sad, as that is a very rarely seen species near our feeders and pots. Not a mark on him. We have hawks but no sign of that. No nearby kids with bb spitters. Might have hit nearby window too hard but couldn’t tell. Just sad to lose even one.
Zebrastripes 10 months ago
Awww! Words to ponder. But tomorrow we plunder!
Count Olaf Premium Member 10 months ago
That will be a depressing brain worm for the rest of the day…
smsrt 10 months ago
They call it poetic justice. I don’t understand it either.
Will_Scarlet 10 months ago
“There is special providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now, ’tis not to come; if it be not to come, it will be now; if it be not now, yet it will come—thereadiness is all.” – Shakespeare
goboboyd 10 months ago
Life is a series of heavy sighs.
rshive 10 months ago
Your expectations get adjusted as you grow older, Calvin.
mourdac Premium Member 10 months ago
Just ordered a bunch of stick-ons for my windows to keep birds from doing this.
flying spaghetti monster 10 months ago
you can’t anthropomorphize nature. It is what it is.
MS72 10 months ago
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher,
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.Meg: Cute as a Raccoon 10 months ago
Li’l bit of doubt, Hobbes.
Lydushka 10 months ago
i’m in my 60’s… it does make sense but at a cost.
figuratively speaking 10 months ago
If we could remember those wonderful insights we get in quiet moments, the world would be a kinder place.
vaughnrl2003 Premium Member 10 months ago
Death is the end of this mortal existence, but there is so much work to do avoiding it, that it really isn’t worth thinking about until you have to. Sort of like the start of school.
kunddog 10 months ago
It’s not suppose to make sense. It’s just part of human nature to look for patterns and meaning whether they are true or not. Thats how we survived as a species,
Otis Rufus Driftwood 10 months ago
Is this the best ‘Calvin and Hobbes’ strip of them all? I feel it may be.
mindjob 10 months ago
To a bird, life ends where pane glass windows begin
The Wolf In Your Midst 10 months ago
Unfortunately, when most people “grow up”, they just stop having thoughts like these.
Richard S Russell Premium Member 10 months ago
Brilliant!
josh_bisbee 10 months ago
Sadly, it never does.
BilboDaddy 10 months ago
Ahhhh… the innocence of youth.
rentier 10 months ago
A bird has only two Legs. This bird has four ones. And under the colourful bird is a black one! I don’t really understand this!
T... 10 months ago
Sunday morning sermon in the Church of Calvin. As a Calvanist I say Amen…
anomaly 10 months ago
Might be a refusal to accept life for what it is.
BiggerNate91 10 months ago
If only
All I gotta say to that
If only
wiley207 10 months ago
Definitely one of their best strips. I love that photorealistic dead bird sketch in the first panel. I definitely thought of this strip a couple times I was working at Walmart and I had to dispose of a dead sparrow that most likely hit the doors. (Sparrows were always getting in and out of the store.)
pchemcat 10 months ago
I am not used to Calvin being so sweet and introspective. Thanks.
willie_mctell 10 months ago
Shouldn’t Hobbes be saying something like “Nasty, brutish, and short?”
Purple People Eater 10 months ago
I’m 65 years old, and it still doesn’t make sense to me.
sperry532 10 months ago
Interesting. This was drawn some 26 years before Olaf sang “This will all make sense when I am older” in Frozen II. (“When I Am Older” Josh Gad as Olaf).
Some things never change. (Also a song from Frozen II performed by the cast.)
Curiosity Premium Member 10 months ago
Nope. Never does, and I’ll never see 70 again. You do learn to live with it, and appreciate the good parts while trying not to dwell too much on the not-so-good.
rgcviper 10 months ago
A deep, thought-provoking comic today. Thank you, Mr. Watterson.
dv 10 months ago
I was really expecting in the last panel for him to go decide to poke it with a stick
Gent 10 months ago
Even after so many years and so many reruns, this comic still one of the best of the best that runs today!
Birdman47 10 months ago
Calvin really has a sensitive mature side after all and feels empathy. Very touching.
skinkis.com 10 months ago
This one installment speaks volumes. Watterson was a genius…
hagarthehorrible 10 months ago
Never mind, It will never make sense even if you grow up buddy. Enjoy your sunny day under the tree shade with your comrade, Hobbes.
liberalnlovinit 10 months ago
And then Hobbes goes back to eat the bird…
steve7701 Premium Member 10 months ago
One of the greatest strips in history. I hope Watterson won a Pulitzer Prize at some point. If not a Nobel!